Chair.



PATBNTED JUNE 28, 1904.

I. BENNETT.

CHAIR.

APPLIOATION rum) mm. 14, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

.ll Illlllkllllltlllllillll'nllu Inventor i Z 2 f Witnesses Attorneys Tm: Norma Puma co huOIO-Lflum. WASHINGTON. n. 4:,

No. 763,656. PATENTE D JUNE 28, 1904.

F. BENNETT.

CHAIR.

APPLIUATION FILED r123. 14. 1902.

no MODEL. 2 sums-sum 2.

: pg Q l l l I I I I l I I Witnesses: IIIKVEIIQIOI" I Atfomeys 763,656. Patented June as, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK BENNETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE HALE AND KILBURN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL VANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,656, dated June 28, 1904.

Application filed Feb ua y 14, 1902. Serial No. 94,056. (No model.)

T (W1 o it y eon/667%! wardly the studs or rolls engaging with such Be it known that I, FREDERIoK BENNETT, a tracks force the back to assume a position citizen of the United States, residing in the oblique to the plane of the seat, and as the 5 borough of Queens, city of New York, State movement progresses the degree of inclina- 5 .of New York, have inventeda certain new and tion of such back is increased to the desired useful Improvement in Chairs, of which the extent. In order that there may be no undue following is a description. separation between the lower surface of the The object of the present invention is to seat-back and the inner edge of the seat-cush- 5 5 providea chair having a seat and a back (prefion, the latter is provided with a sliding conerably, although not necessarily, separable) nection with such back, thus maintaining the which shall be movable relatively .to each relativity between said seat cushion and back other and to the supporting-frame and'which in any position in which these parts are adaptby a slight shifting of the weight of the user ed to be moved. 0'0 may be so moved with relation to each other The parts above referred to are so con- 5 as that the chair shall adapt itself to any destructed and arranged as that the power necsired sitting or reclining position of the user. essary to shift both the seat and the back in v A further object of the invention is to so order to cause the latter to incline even more mount and position the seat and back as that than normally with respect to the seat may 65 although the inclination of each will change readily be supplied by a mere shifting of the with relation to the other, or the inclination weight of the occupant of the chair. The

of the back only will change with relation to power so supplied will also be sufficient to rethe seat, the distance between a given point turn the chair seat and back to normal posiupon one and a given point upon theother tion by the same shifting operation on the 70 shall be maintained substantially unchanged. .part of the user, but in the opposite direction.

5 A further object of the invention is to so If desired, in order to more readily restore mount and support the seat and back Within the chair to normal position the back therea suitable chair-frame as to secure the greatof may be provided with a spring, the tendest durability of the various chair parts in opency of which is to produce this result. 75 eration, such parts being but few and of sim- The invention is illustrated in the accom- 3 ple construction. panying drawings, in which- In carrying out the invention I employ a Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a chair-frame consisting, essentially, of two chair employing my invention, the cushion side members, preferably connected by crossand back thereof being shown in dotted lines. 0 bars, said frame being provided at a point Fig. 2 is an end view of a portion of the chair below the intended location of the seat with illustrated in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a central shelves or tracks upon which the seat-cushion vertical section similar to Fig. l, but illusis movably supported. The seat-cushion is trating the seat and back as moved to the exadapted to slide upon these shelves or tracks treme of the reclining position. 8 5 and may, if desired, be provided with rolls Referring to the drawings, in which simi- 4 or sheaves to facilitate the sliding operation. lar letters denote corresponding parts, the The inner surface of each of the side frames chair-frame comprises the side members A, is provided witha groove or track the upper which may of course be of any suitable deportion of which is arranged in one plane and sign. The rear portion of such frames, how- 9 the lower portion at an angle to such upper ever, should extend suflieiently high to perportion, and with such grooves or tracks comit of the arrangement therein of guide-tracks act studs or rolls secured to the edges of the for'the back, as hereinafter referred to. The seat-back. As said seat-back is moved downside frames are here shown as connected. by

cross-bars a a, and between such cross-bars extend seat-supporting bars (6 Of these there may be two or such other number as may be desired. It is not essential that these parts be located intermediate of the side frames A, as I may, if desired, provide for the support of the seat by means of shelves extending inwardly from each of the side frames A. Such seat-supporting bars or shelves will, as indicated herein, preferably be inclined, the outer end thereof (the front of the chair) being higher than the inner end.

B designates the seat or cushion. This is mounted to slide upon the bars a and may, if desired, be provided with rolls or sheaves b in order to facilitate the sliding operation. The

seat, as here shown, is provided with two such sheaves, one for each of the seat-supporting bars (0 It is obvious, however, that there may be a greater number of such sheaves, if desired. The rear edge of the cushion B instead of being parallel with the forward edge thereof preferably recedes sharply for the purpose of affording maximum space at that point for the operation of the seat-back, as hereinafter described.

C designates the seat-back. This may be of any desired shape upon its operative surface and will, like the seat B, preferably be upholstered. Secured to each edge of the back C and preferably in a line parallel with the longitudinal axis thereof are studs or rolls 0. If rolls be employed, as herein shown, they may be carried on pivots 0'. These rolls coact with a groove or track D in each of the side frames A of the chair. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the upper portion D of each groove or track D is substantially straight and is arranged generally in or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the seat-back when the same is in normal slightly-inclined position. The lower portion D however, extends at an angle to the portion D in order that when the lower roll 0 upon each side of the seatback enters-and is guided in the said portion D of such groove or track not only will the back be moved to a greater degree of inclination, but in effecting this movement the lower edge thereof will be brought forward toward but below the rear edge of the seat B.

E designates a plate secured to each of the side edges of the back 0. For simplicity of construction the lower stud or roll 0 upon each side edge of the seat-back is preferably secured to such plate, although this is not essential. Said plate E is provided with an elongated slot 0, which, as here shown, is arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the back 0, and therefore to that of the up per portion D of the groove or track D. With each of the elongated slots coacts a stud f, secured to or formed integral with one end of a bracket F, the other end of said bracket being secured to the side edge of the seat or cushion B. Said studs 2 may, if desired, be provided with rolls for economizing friction and wear. When the parts are in normal position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the studs f occupy their lowermost position in the slots 6 of the plates E. As the back moves downwardly and the upper portion thereof backwardly said studs rise in said slots until when the extreme reclining position is reached they occupy their uppermost position therein, as illustrated in Fig. 3. During this movement from one extreme position to the other the rear edge of the seat or cushion is kept nearly, or quite, in contact with the surface of the back, making, in effect, a continuous upholstered surface from the forward edge of such seat to the top edge of such back. Also during the said movement from one extreme position to the other, the back being guided by the track D, the lower edge thereof passes downward as well as forward behind the rear edge of the seat B, the latter also moving forward to permit this operation. As a result, although the inclination of the back is changed relatively to the seat, substantially no change takes place between a given point on one and a similar point on the other. This feature conduces greatly to the ease and comfort of the occupant of the chair and precludes the disarranging of the clothing common in various prior constructions, including chairs of the well-known Morris type. Another feature of importance is the ease and facility with which the adjustment of the chair to various positions may be effected by the shifting of the weight of the occupant. This applies to all positions of the chair from one extreme to the other. Thus, the parts being in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, rearward pressure against the back by the shoulders, involving as it does slight forward pressure upon the seat by the limbs, readily moves such back and seat in the direction of the extreme position. (Illustrated in Fig. 3.) Cessation of the pressure at any point involves cessation of movement of the seat and back. On shifting the body slightly forward the chair-back maintaining contact with the back and shoulders of the occupant will move to the desired extent toward the normal position. This operation is aided by a spring suitably arranged to exert pressure upon the parts, tending to maintain them in the normal position. (Illustrated in Fig. 1.) Ihave here shown such a spring G, the rear end of which is adjustably secured, by means of a hook or bolt g, to the cross-bar a of the chair-frame, its forward end being connected to an arm H, secured to the lower end ofthe chair-back C and in the present instance extending downward and forward therefrom, the said arm H aiding in guiding the back to its upright position.

If desired, the track D may be so arranged as to permit greater degree of movement of the chair-back and the seat (or either) than herein described. In such case the shape or outline of the lower end of the back as well as that of the wearing-surface thereof may, if desired, be also modified.

WVh-at I claim is- 1. In a chair having side sections, the combination with aframe, having side sections and transverse supporting-bars, of a seat, an adjustable back, means for supporting and guiding the same comprising guideways on the side sections normally arranged substantially parallel to the back and having a forwardlyextended portion arranged at an angle to the seat, and means on the back for engaging the guideways, a plate carried by said back and having an elongated slot, an arm carried by said seat and having a pin or stud coacting with said slot, an arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the back, and a spring member on said arm secured to one of said transverse bars for normally holding said back in upright position, substantially as described.

2. In a chair having side sections, the combination with a frame, having side sections and transverse supporting-bars, of a seat, an ad justable back, means for supporting and guiding the same comprising guideways on the side sections normally arranged substantially parallel to the back and having a forwardlyeXtcnded portion arranged at an angle to the seat, and means on the back for engaging the guideways, a plate carried by said back and having an elongated slot, an arm carried by said seat and having a pin or stud coacting with said slot, said pin or stud being adapted to move in said slot with the movement of said adjustable back, an arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the back, and a spring member on said arm ad justably secured to one of said transverse bars for normally holding said back in upright position, substantially as described.

3. A chair, comprising a frame having side sections, and transverse and longitudinal supporting-bars, a slidable seat, rollers on the seat engaging the longitudinal supporting-bars, an adjustable back, guideways on the side sections normally arranged parallel to the back and having an upwardly-extended portion arranged at an angle to the seat, means on the back for engaging the guideways, a plate carried by said back and having an elongated slot, an arm carried by said seat and having a stud coacting with said slot, and a spring secured to one of said transverse bars for retaining the back in normal position.

4. A chair, comprising a frame having side sections, and transverse and longitudinal supporting-bars, a slidable seat, rollers on the seat engaging the longitudinal supporting-bars, an adjustable back, guideways on the side sections normally arranged parallel to the back and having an upwardly-extended portion arranged at an angle to the seat, means on the back for engaging the guideways, a plate carried by said back and having an elongated slot, an arm carried by said seat and having a stud coacting with said slot, an arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the back, and a spring secured to the lower end of said arm and one of said transverse bars, for retaining the back in normal position.

5. A chair, comprising a frame having side sections, and transverse and longitudinal supporting-bars, a slidable seat, rollers on the seat engaging the longitudinal supporting-bars, an adjustable back, guideways on the side sections normally arranged parallel to the back and having an upwardly-extended portion arranged at an angle to the seat, means on the back for engaging the guideways, a plate carried by said back and having an elongated slot, an arm carried by said seat and having a stud coacting with said slot, an arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the back, a spring secured to the lower end of said arm and one of said transverse bars for retaining the back in normal position, and means for regulating the tension of the spring.

6. In a chair, the combination with a frame, of a seat, an adjustable back, means for supporting and guiding the same, comprising guideways on the side of the frame normally arranged parallel to the back, and having an upwardly-extended portion arranged at an angle to the seat, rollers on the back engaging the guideways, a plate carried by said back, an arm carried by the seat, a slidable connection between the arm and plate, a rod extending downwardly and forwardly from the back, and a spring member connecting said rod with the frame for normally holding said back in normal position.

This specification signed and witnessed this 13th day of February, 1902.

FREDERICK BENNETT.

Witnesses:

S. O. EDMoNDs, JOHN L. LOTSCH. 

